Google Voice or alternative?

[Bryan C.]

what r u using for ur business...Google Voice or something else?

How much is it and how we'll does it work?

[Nicholas Miller]

Originally posted by @Bryan C.:

how does Google voice work? I am an out of town investor.

@Jerred Morris 

 Anyone with internet access can get a google voice account.  Its simply a voicemail service from google.  All you need to do is search google for "google voice" and set up an account.  To do this you will need a cell phone...  and thats about it.  After a few simple steps it will replace your phones voicemail.

With google voice you can pick a new phone number, keep your existing phone number or buy multiple phone numbers...  My cell phone will ring anytime someone calls 

(260)693-7368 (thats (260)OWE-RENT)

(260)632-2002

or my real cell number

(260)444-1842

I think I had to pay a one time fee of $40 for the 632-2002 number and it is worth it as I can gage the effectiveness of ads.  If I have an ad running the 444 number and a second ad with slightly different wording going to the 693 number and a third to the 632 number I can measure the response rate for wording used based on the phone number that gets the most calls.

Also, with google voice you can have different voicemails for different groups.  Lets say you are a wholesaler, realtor, landlord and a family man/woman.  You can set up different voicemails for each group...  So if I can have a voicemail for my wife that says "hey babe, sorry I cannot take your call but I still love you" and I have have a voicemail for clients that says basically the same thing minus the word "love" and for tenants I can have personalized voicemails with rent instructions, emergency maintenance instructions.

(screent shot of "settings" - "groups & circles" family gets the friends and family message, spam goes straight to voicemail, tenants get the 693RENT message and everyone else gets my Nick Miller the Realtor message)

There are tons of features with google voice that might help you in your real estate investing but these are my favorites.